Despite a strong start and the ability to keep pace in the NFC playoff race until the final day of the regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers failed to reach the postseason a year ago even with a 10-6 record. After consecutive losses to fall to 4-4, the Buccaneers will have an even tougher time getting in this year, and simply cannot afford to drop a third straight sports betting contest when they host the surging Houston Texans this Sunday.
Houston Texans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday November 13, 2011 – 1:00 PM ET
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
NFL Betting Lines: Houston Texans – 3
The Texans can learn a lesson from last year’s Tampa Bay team about putting opponents away. Houston has won three straight to establish a two-game lead in the AFC South, but will need to keep their foot on the gas if they are going to clinch their first division title in franchise history.
Texans Buccanneers Betting Preview: Houston Texans
The potential road to the postseason is a little smoother for the Texans this season, with the winless Indianapolis Colts eliminated from the equation without franchise quarterback Peyton Manning, and neither the Tennessee Titans or Jacksonville Jaguars on pace to finish better than .500. While quarterback Matt Schaub continues to get the job done, the Houston offense has thrived in the running game of late, including 261 yards on the ground in last weekend’s win over the Cleveland Browns. While former rushing champion Arian Foster ran for 124 yards and a score in that game, he got some help from Ben Tate, who averaged 9.6 yards on 12 carries to reach 115 total with another touchdown. While the Texans’ offense has once again been explosive, perhaps the biggest improvement this year is on defense, where Houston ranks second against the run and fourth against the pass.
Texans Buccanneers Betting Preview: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
That is bad news for a Tampa Bay team that has struggled on offense recently, with just one win through their last four games. Part of the problem is the fact that the Buccaneers’ running game hasn’t been consistent, but quarterback Josh Freeman has also struggled, and while he did better protecting the football in last weekend’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, he wasn’t much of a game breaker. New Orleans was able to gain 195 rushing yards and control possession after scoring the game’s first two touchdowns, and if Tampa Bay is going to have any shot in this online sports book game they must start faster.
Texans Buccanneers Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick
Although the Buccaneers have been better at home, they haven’t played with the consistency of a true contender on either side of the ball, and could once again be exposed by that lack of consistency this weekend against the Texans. Houston is playing very good football of late, and when you combine that with the fact that the AFC South is now wide open, the Texans appear to be on their way to their first playoff berth in franchise history.
Texans Buccanneers Betting Pick: Houston Texans